1 Corinthians 7:1–9

Principles of Marriage

7Now in response to the matters you wrote ^mabout: “It is good for a man not to have relations with ⁿa woman.” ^o2But because sexual immorality is so common, ^pqeach man should have his own wife, ^rand each woman should have her own husband. ³A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility ^sto his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. ⁴A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. ⁵Do not deprive ^tone another sexually—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to ^uprayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶I say the following ^vas a concession, not as a command. ⁷I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift ^wfrom God, one person in this way and another in that way.

A Word to the Unmarried

⁸I say to the unmarried and to widows: ^xIt is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹But if they do not have self-control, ^ythey should marry, for it is better to marry ^zthan to burn with desire.